LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS AUDITIONS

Monday, February 6 (6 PM)

Tuesday, February 7 (6 PM)

Call backs: Wednesday, February 8 (6 PM)

In-Person at Bay City Players

1214 Columbus Ave.

Bay City, MI 48708

Directors: Gordon M. Levine
Assistant Director: Larry Jacobs

Producer: Judy Miller

Music Director: Robin Devereaux

Choreographer: Jeremy Courier

Please join us for in-person auditions for our upcoming production of Little Shop of Horrors with music by Alan Menken and lyrics and a book by Howard Ashman. Auditions are open to the public and newcomers are welcome! Bay City Players is a nonprofit nonequity community theatre and performers are volunteers. Performance agreement, DHHS Central Registry Clearance, and Sex Offender Registry Clearance required to participate. Auditions are Monday, February 6, 2023, and Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 6:00 PM. with call backs on Wednesday, February 8 at 6:00 P.M. Participants must be over the age of 18.

 THE STORY: On the 21^st of September, not so long ago, creatures from outer space invaded our galaxy intent on world domination. Some of them took the form of plants. Seymour purchased one of the plants and brought it back to Mushnik’s Skid Row Florist shop where he worked. He tended the plant lovingly naming it Audrey II after his fellow assistant, Audrey. Audrey II proves to be a draw in the shop which starts to attract many visitors. The major problem, however, is that Audrey II’s food happens to be blood – fresh blood! As the plant starts to grow, so does its appetite and its demands. Audrey has a sadistic boyfriend, a dentist Orin, who regularly appeases his sadistic desires on Audrey, who ultimately realizes that she really does have a friend in Seymour. Seymour has been feeding Audrey II with his own blood but is gradually growing weaker as the plant’s appetite increases. In exchange for fresh blood, Audrey II says he will grant Seymour’s heart’s desire. When Seymour goes to confront him, Orin overdoses on laughing gas – Audrey II, however, has her first human victim. Mushnik begins to suspect the worst and thus becomes the second victim when he stumbles on the secret of Audrey II’s growth. By this time Audrey II is growing rapidly and entraps Audrey. Seymour heroically rescues a fatally injured Audrey and tells her the whole story of Audrey II and her victims. Audrey wants to join them – and does. Seymour is then visited by a representative of World Botanical Enterprises (W.B.E.) as they wish to propagate Audrey II. When they’ve gone, Seymour tries to kill off the bloodsucking plant but is pulled into its heart. The representatives from the W.B.E. return and take their cuttings. World domination looms – here come Audrey II, and III and IV and …..

 DIRECTOR’S NOTE:

First, THANK YOU to everyone for your interest in joining our Little Shop of Horrors! I am extremely excited for the opportunity to collaborate with such a talented production team on such a fun show! I know that we are going to see some amazing talent, and so in preparation for the auditions I would like to pass along a few helpful tips, so here goes:

• Please do not attempt to recreate the actors from the movie – we are doing the musical, not a recreation of the well-known movie. While it is great, we will create our own magic on the stage!
• ALL cast members will be singing throughout several numbers in the show, therefore ALL who wish to be considered for any role MUST sing at their audition and be prepared for a singing call-back.
• Call-backs: Yes, we WILL be having call-backs on Wednesday – please make sure your schedule is open to accommodate the time.
• Many roles will double as Skid Row residents in several scenes so the ability to switch between multiple personas is very important – BE FLEXIBLE to change.
• The age ranges listed below are somewhat flexible – it is more important that your look fits the age range, even if your actual age does not …
• Although the characters in Little Shop of Horrors may seem stereotypical, they have potential to be much more and need to be played with depth and sincerity. Make sure you show us your ability in the audition.

Finally, HAVE FUN! This show is a perennial favorite and I know that we’re going to create a memorable and fun experience for cast and audience alike. I look forward to seeing you all at auditions!

REHEARSAL & PRODUCTION DATES:

Music rehearsals will begin as soon as casting has taken place. First read-through February 26 and full rehearsals start February 27 at Bay City Players, 1214 Columbus Ave., Bay City, MI 48708. Production dates are April 28-30 & May 5-7, 2023. Full rehearsal schedule available Rehearsal Schedule or at the end of the packet.

 CHARACTERS (Ages are for the characters, not the actors):

• SEYMOUR KRELBORN: Employed in a run-down East Side Flower Shop in skid row. He is the insecure, naïve, put-upon florist’s clerk – our hero. He’s sweet and well-meaning, somewhat shy, awkward; lacking in social skills. A menial laborer at Mushnik’s Flower Shop. Nebbish-like, he feels much put-upon. Despite his flaws, he’s a sweet and well-meaning little man. Seymour becomes the owner of the carnivorous plant, Audrey II. He has a whole lot of insecurity going on, but as the show progresses and the plant grows more powerful, so does his confidence. Comic timing a must.
  • Male, 18 – 30’s
  • Vocal Range: Tenor
• AUDREY: The other employee of Mushnik’s Flower Shop, she is honest and attractive, but has very low self-esteem and therefore dresses like trash, attracting all the wrong guys. Not well-educated, and a bit air-headed, she is the gum-snapping, bleached-blond secret love of Seymour’s life. Lacking in education and self-esteem, she suffers from feelings of hopelessness at her situation in life, including her abusive relationship with her boyfriend, Orin Scrivello. Seymour names his plant after her.
  • Female, 18 – 30’s
  • Vocal Range: Sweet-sounding Mezzo-Soprano with strong belt ability G3 – D5
• CRYSTAL, RONNETTE and CHIFFON: Street urchins who function as both participants within the action of the play, and as “doo-wop” chorus girls outside it. They are our primary storytellers who help move the story along and provide some narrative. They’re hip, smart, and the only characters who reallyknow what’s going on. They occasionally sing to the audience directly, with a secret smile that says, “we know something you don’t know”.
  • Female, 18 – 30 yrs old
  • Vocal Range: Must sound funky, soulful, jazzy, and huge with every note sung.
  • Mezzo-Soprano
• MUSHNIK: Owner of the flower shop; the boss. He is a failure as a florist. Jewish middle class New York. Sweats a lot. Mushnik is given to cursing in Yiddish. He is a man who seldom smiles and often yells. This almost retirement-aged Jewish store owner has pretty much one thing at his core – self-preservation. He has somewhat fatherly tendencies towards Audrey, but oddly enough, NOT towards Seymour, who he eventually adopts. His personality has the ability to be conniv­ing and dark, but then turn on a dime and be sweet, happy and the life of the room.
  • Male, 50+ yrs old
  • Vocal Range: Baritone
• ORIN SCRIVELLO, DDS: Egotistical, rough and insensitive; Audrey’s abusive boyfriend. He’s a sadistic dentist, dressed like a greaser, but thinks like an insurance salesman. He’s in love with the sound of his own voice. A motorcycle-riding, black leather jacket-wearing tough-guy. He is tall, dark, handsome, and sadistic. His fondness for his own nitrous oxide proves to be his undoing. Orin’s addiction to causing others pain is both his motivation for life, and the eventual cause of his death.
  • Male, Late 20’s-30’s
  • Vocal Range: Baritone
• THE PLANT (AUDREY II):  An anthropomorphic cross between a Venus flytrap and an avocado, the plant has an appetite for human flesh that is appeased by Seymour. Puppeteer doubles as other sizes of the plant.
• VOICE OF THE PLANT: An actor/vocalist located offstage. The voice is that of a conniving, street-smart ‘villain.’ A funky Rhythm and Blues voice is best.
  • Vocal Range: Baritone/Bass

*PLEASE NOTE: The roles of Mr. Bernstein, Mrs. Luce, Skip Snip, Customer, and Radio Announcer may be cast between one or multiple people

• BERNSTEIN: A fast-talking media hotshot
• LUCE: A wealthy representative from Life Magazine; a schmoozing business type; puts on airs (MAY BE PLAYED BY A MALE IN DRAG)
• SKIP SNIP: A smooth, trench-coated East Coast talent agent
• CUSTOMER: An overly enthusiastic passer-by
• WSKID RADIO ANNOUNCER
• PATRICK MARTIN: A sleazy opportunist

*Diverse talent encouraged to audition

 WHAT TO PREPARE:

Be familiar with the song ‘Suddenly, Seymour’ and prepare a verse or chorus of any song of your choice to be sung acapella. Dance steps will be taught and there will be some cold reading from the script.

AUDITION STEPS:

1. Review the Rehearsal Schedule as you must include all known conflicts on your audition form.

2. Complete theAudition Form before coming to auditions.
3. Consider reading the full script before auditions.
4. Come to ONE of the audition dates:
   1. Monday, February 6 (6:00 PM)
   2. Tuesday, February 7 (6:00 PM)

(Doors will be open 30 minutes prior to auditions starting)

If you have additional questions, please contact the director, Gordon M. Levine,  directordude1@hotmail.com

Bay City Player’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Vision Statement

The theatre has long been a haven for self-expression and restoration of the spirit. However, we recognize there is great inequity in our world. We embrace the opportunity to learn from the worldwide call for allyship with respect to the voices of all marginalized people. We understand that impactful and long-lasting change takes time and a shared commitment. Bay City Players is dedicated to authentic Diversity, Inclusion and Equity across all spectrums and will continue to seek innovative ways to achieve this.

Bay City Player’s Makeup Policy

Bay City Players has implemented a new Makeup Policy for the safety of cast members. Each cast member is asked to purchase their own Ben Nye makeup kit to keep with intent to reduce the spread of germs resulting from sharing makeup. Cast members do not have to purchase a kit if they have a Ben Nye kit from a previous show. The kit cost approximately $26 per kit. Kits last approximately two years if taken care of properly and Ben Nye has colors for EVERY skin tone. Should you not be able to cover the cost of your kit, scholarships are available and kept confidential.

COVID-19

Face coverings are currently optional but may become required if there is an uptick of cases. We hope to continue to resume normal production activities, but we cannot guarantee that a show will be fully produced. If the CDC or the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services posts new advisories or recommendations, we will follow them and continue to act on the side of health and safety for our volunteers and staff. If changes or adjustments are made along the way, you can trust that you will be notified immediately.